The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-09-09

EDITOR OF HE IIMES:-AS II may be
of interest to some of the young peo-
pie of Owosso and vicinity, / will,
with your consent, publish brief
statement about the new marriage
laws. These take effect the a7th of
this month. What will be said in
this article relates only to the pre-
liminaries to getting married.
The present "old law" simply sends
the couple to the officiating clergy
man or magistrate where. if no OBJ
jections are discovered. all may be
done in the way of taking and max
ing the record and issuing the certifi-
cate.
The new law calls for "license"
before marriage. This is not ere
turn" or "record" merely, but a ali
cense," a permit issued by the author
ity Of the state to the parties DESTROYS
of marriage. Without this "license"
properly filled out and signed by the
clerk of the county in which it is is
sued one cannot get married; that is,
no clergyman or magistrate has a
right to marry them. The fee for
this license is fifty cents, TO be paid
to the county clerk. He only is au-
thorized to issue it.
The applicant for marriage Ii
cepse" must present TO the county
clerk an affidavit for marriage Ii
cense." This affidavit contains the
statements which must be made con-
corning the contracting parties. These
are: Age, color, residence, occupa
ton. fathers name, *mother's maid
en- name, number of,imes previously
married, maiden name (of lady J, if a
widow. Items starred to be given if
known. These affidavits may be had
of the county clerk directly, or may
be in the hands of ministers, magis
trates or others These are to be
filled out, that is facts sought are to
be given, and the whole is to be
sworn to before anyone authorized to
administer an oath. Under the pres
ent law, clergymen administer the
oath. but under the new they cannot.
This affidavit, filled out by the new
officer entitled to administer the oath
is to be sent to the county clerk, with
fifty cents to pay for the marriage
llcense," and guess it had better be
added an extra stamp for return.
This will bring the license, and the
minister or magistrate may proceed.
To avoid misunderstanding, let me
say here, the law does not contem-
plate that the county clerk shall fill
and file the affidavit and issue the
"license" all for fifty cents. If one
prefers to go in person to the coun.
ty clerk and have him fill the affida-
Wit, he may. But the clerk has the
same right to compensation for it as
for administering any oath and certi.
flying thereto.
The marriage license is in dupli
cate, that is in two parts. The per.
son who officiates or "marries the
couple completes the record on
both parts. One is returned by him
to the county clerk for record and
the other given to the parties mar.
ried: This latter is the only one
marriage Certificate" of any worth
under the new law. II then one wants
to get married, and does not want it
noised abroad, or if he does, for that
matter, he must get some minister or
other affidavit" fill it before any.
one who can administer an oath, as
justice of the peace, notary public;
county clerk or others, file it with the
county clerk by mail or in person
with fee inclosed) and get mar
rage license. Then he may get mar.
ried and should get married "foi
keeps"
Young man, cut this out, it may
help YOU sooner or later.